HomeFacilitating Integration and Reflection of the Elon ExperiencesFor Students Informational Interviews Share: Section NavigationSkip section navigationIn this sectionFacilitating Integration and Reflection of the Elon Experiences Toolkit Across Experience Questions Global Engagement Internships Leadership Service Undergraduate Research Expansion Set: Facilitating Integration of and Reflection on Engaged Learning (Broadly) For Students Informational Interviews For Faculty and Staff Sample FIRE Toolkit Activities Emailing Students (Templates) For Parents and Family Members Print a Toolkit Deck About the Toolkits You can use the FIRE Toolkit questions to learn more about the Elon Experiences as you consider which are the best fit for you. You can adapt the resources below to request informational interviews with peers, alumni, staff, and faculty. We’ve also shared examples of how you can use the Toolkit questions during this interviews. Email Request to a Peer or Alumni Subject: Request for an Informational Interview About Your Elon Experiences (ELRs) Hi [Name], I hope you’re doing well. My name is [Your Name], and I’m a [year/major]. I’ve been exploring different types of Elon Experiences I could pursue during college, and I recently learned about your involvement in [internship, leadership, service/community-based learning, study away, service-learning, undergraduate research]. Your experience stood out to me, and I would love to learn more about it. If you’re willing, I would really appreciate the chance to talk with you for 20–30 minutes about your experience—how you found the opportunity, what you learned from it, and any advice you might have for another student hoping to get involved. I’m happy to meet at a time and format that’s convenient for you (in person, Zoom, phone, etc.). Thank you for considering my request. I know you’re busy, and I’m grateful for any insight you’re able to share. Please let me know if there’s a time that works for you. Warmly,[Your Name][Your Major/Year][Email][Optional: Phone] Email Request to a Faculty or Staff Member Subject: Request for an Informational Interview About Experiential Learning Opportunities Dear Professor/Dr./Ms./Mr. [Last Name], [Note: At Elon, “Dr.” often is used for faculty and staff who have earned a PhD. If you aren’t sure how to address someone who works at Elon, you can search for them in the university directory to learn more about their role on campus and how others address them.] I hope you’re doing well. My name is [Your Name], and I’m a [year/major]. I’m currently exploring the different Elon Experiences that can count towards the Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR), and I’ve heard about your work with students involved in [relevant program, initiative, research area, internship support, community engagement, etc.]. I’m very interested in learning more about your perspective and the opportunities available. If you’re willing, I would greatly appreciate the chance to speak with you for 20–30 minutes to learn more about the experiences you’ve seen students undertake, how they get connected to those opportunities, and any advice you might have for students navigating the Elon Experiences. I’m happy to meet at a time and in a format that is most convenient for you. Thank you very much for considering my request. I appreciate your time and any guidance you’re able to share. Please let me know if there’s a time that works for you. Sincerely,[Your Name][Your Major/Year][Email][Optional: Phone] Informational Interview with a Peer or Alumni In interviews with other students and alumni, you can use the FIRE Toolkit questions to start a conversation about the Elon Experiences. You could start with an opening question: Which Elon Experiences did you complete? Then you might draw from the Across Experiences: Post-Experience questons to ask: How did your Elon Experience(s) challenge you to learn and grow? How might your Elon Experience(s) inform your personal and professional life beyond Elon? How did your Elon Experience compare to your pre-experience expectations for it? Next, you might ask about a specific Elon Experience. For example, if the student or alumni participated in undergraduate research, you could ask them questions from the Undergraduate Research: Post-Experience questions: How was your research experience during your time at Elon both beneficial and valuable? As you look back on your research experience, what were the prominent challenges you faced and how did you overcome these challenges? What qualities and skills were you able to develop as a result of undertaking a research project and how do you see yourself using these skills in the future? Don’t be surprised if they follow up by asking you a few questions from the Across Experiences: Pre-Experience questions: What Elon Experience(s) do you think you’d like to pursue and why? How might the Elon Experience(s) support your learning and career interests? How will the Elon Experiences help you in your Elon path and in your life path?
